No evidence Cano killing connected to Fort Morgan double murder

Sterling Police Chief Tyson Kerr has confirmed that Tricia Benitez, the 39-year-old Log Lane Village woman who was arrested for the murder to Fort Morgan native Alexis Cano, knew Cano. However, the chief said he is not yet able to provide further details about the relationship between Benitez and Cano.

"The only thing I am going to say, because [the case] is still under investigation, is that they were known to one another," Kerr said. "I'm not going to discuss the details of the relationship."

Kerr also said he could not yet provide information about how Cano was killed. Cano was found dead at his home in Sterling on May 11.

His death was initially described as "suspicious" with police confirming in August that Cano had been murdered after Cano's family received his death certificate, which listed "homicide" as the manner of his death.

"At this point, I am not going to say how the victim was killed," Kerr said. "I'm not going to get into those details because it still is under investigation and there is still work to do as far as that goes."

Kerr did say police had not ruled the possibility that other people were involved in Cano's murder.

"We haven't ruled out the potential of other suspects," he said.

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However, Kerr did say Cano's murder doesn't appear to be connected to the murders of Santos Macias and Destiny McMinn. McMinn and Macias were last seen on March 22. Macias body was found in Fort Morgan on April 17 while McMinn's body was found in an animal shed near Wiggins on April 23. Two Fort Morgan 18-year-olds have been charged with McMinn and Macias' murders.

"Through the investigation we haven't been able to determine that Cano's murder is related to that case," Kerr said. "We don't believe so but we always keep that open in case we find any indication that there might be a connection but we are not finding that there is one at this point."

Kerr also chose not to answer when asked whether Benitez has been previously known to law enforcement.

"I am not going to comment on anything of that nature," Kerr said.

Kerr did say Benitez was arrested at the 13th Judicial District Probation Office in Fort Morgan on Friday by Sterling police officers after a warrant was secured for Benitez's arrest. Kerr did not say what previous offense Benitez was on probation for.

Benitez was charged with second-degree murder, a charge that indicates officers believe Cano's killing was intentional but not premeditated.

Cano, 34, was born in Fort Morgan and was listed as being from Fort Morgan on his Facebook page. He worked as a lead man and foreman in an oil field as well as at the Timmerman Feedlot, according to his obituary. He had three children. Cano is buried at the Memory Gardens cemetery in Fort Morgan.

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